"Christmas in Montana" is one of those modern TV seasonal films right out of the cookie cutter mold. The overworked exec is Sara Bradley, played by Kellie Martin. Her young teen daughter, Chloe, is played by Ava Preston. They lost there husband-dad four years earlier, and Sara has stayed in the city - Los Angeles, with no Christmas celebrations for Chloe the past few years. But Sara takes her on this trip as part of a holiday vacation. Sara is the top financial adviser and employee of a big finance corporation. She is a trouble-shooter who tries to help clients qualify for loans or extended loans. So, she and Chole are headed for the Carson Ranch in Montana.
Although there is a Bigfork, Montana, this movie was filmed in Ontario, Canada. The early couple of scenic snow-cap scenes give it a feel of Western Montana. That's where the Big Sky State has mountains (The Rockies), but the range land and ranches are in the rolling hills and grass prairies of the eastern two-thirds of the state. The setting and early street scene could be in Butte, or Helena, or Great Falls, or Missoula. Or, even Kalispell which is in the Rockies and near the real Bigfork. But any ranch would be more than 80 miles East of there, on the other side of the Rockies and the continental divide. Anyway, these scenes give it an appearance of a Christmas Western - modern, of course.
Pops Carson is the retired head of the ranch, played superbly by Art Hindle. But the reins of the ranch now are in the hands of Travis Carson, junior. Travis just happened to graduate from law school and had a prestigious job back East. But that life wasn't for him, and after he realized it, he moved back to the ranch. Only, his sweetheart didn't take to ranch life. So, after a few years of a wounded lover, he hasn't been available for dates. The men lost their wife-mom a few years ago, and they continue her Christmas holiday traditions of lighting up the ranch.
After he meets Sara, Travis makes it clear that layoffs of employees isn't an option. Chloe takes to the ranch and makes friends with Lexie Ryan (played by Kayla Hutton). Sara and Chloe are amazed to find a beautiful home at the ranch, and a horse barn and buildings that seem almost too immaculate to be on a working ranch. Others in the cast fit nicely in this story. Sara comes up with a last-minute idea to save the ranch without having to sell off any of its 20,000 acres, and she overcomes her insecurity and gives into romance with Travis.
Now, you'd think that this would be rated higher than six stars by this reviewer. And, here's why it isn't. First, there is absolutely no chemistry between the two leads, and it's nigh on impossible to think romance. Not that the movie doesn't try to force it upon the viewers. And that's the second very big negative. Travis can't take his eyes off Sara. It's unreal and one can't imagine what was going through the minds of the director and camera operator for the many, many shots in virtually every scene where Travis is staring wooden faced at Sara. And, most of them show her staring back. They look blank and speechless and expressionless. And, surely not romantic. This is really bad acting and directing.
Now, the crime in this film is because the script otherwise is very good, and peppered with clever dialog - especially witty lines from Travis. Pops joins in with some himself, and this had the making of a very good, nice light comedy romance and drama. But the two leads apparently couldn't find it in themselves to show or feel some chemistry with one another. So, the many scenes of Travis just staring emotionless, with an occasional line or word, really do this film in. There's one other bothersome thing about Travis. He's supposed to be a hardy Montanan and rancher. Yet he wears nothing but a light jacket - not even a barn coat, all the time, and he's frequently cold and rubbing and blowing on this hands. Pops has enough sense to at least wear a more substantial coat, to go along with his more natural padding. So, either Travis should have worn a heavy coat, or he should have shown a little more manly hardiness for the climate.
This film is worth watching for the occasional snappy lines and fresh humor, and the Western setting scenes and feel. Just don't expect anything of a real romance and be prepared for some silly scenes when it looks like Travis and Sara just face off - he mostly blank-faced, in a staring contest.
Here are some favorite lines from this film.
Pops Carson, "Well, the horses here like Christmas too. They like to pretend they're reindeer."
Travis Carson, "That's a cowboy work ethic - you wouldn't ask anybody to do anything you wouldn't do yourself."
Travis, to Sara, "You jump at the work load so fast, it gives me whiplash."
Sara Bradley, "You missed Christmas in New York City - the most Christmassy place in the whole world?" Travis, "Well, it wasn't home."
Travis, hearing a distant bell ringing, "Oh - must be time to go." Sara, "Where?" Travis, "Oh, back to the house. First rule of ranch life - never ignore the chow bell."
Sara, "Sometimes you don't know where you belong until you get there. And it all becomes so clear."
Travis, "Do you wanna go for a stroll?" Sara, "I'd love to." Travis, "Okay. You know that means walking slowly, right?" Sara, "I'll do my best."
Although there is a Bigfork, Montana, this movie was filmed in Ontario, Canada. The early couple of scenic snow-cap scenes give it a feel of Western Montana. That's where the Big Sky State has mountains (The Rockies), but the range land and ranches are in the rolling hills and grass prairies of the eastern two-thirds of the state. The setting and early street scene could be in Butte, or Helena, or Great Falls, or Missoula. Or, even Kalispell which is in the Rockies and near the real Bigfork. But any ranch would be more than 80 miles East of there, on the other side of the Rockies and the continental divide. Anyway, these scenes give it an appearance of a Christmas Western - modern, of course.
Pops Carson is the retired head of the ranch, played superbly by Art Hindle. But the reins of the ranch now are in the hands of Travis Carson, junior. Travis just happened to graduate from law school and had a prestigious job back East. But that life wasn't for him, and after he realized it, he moved back to the ranch. Only, his sweetheart didn't take to ranch life. So, after a few years of a wounded lover, he hasn't been available for dates. The men lost their wife-mom a few years ago, and they continue her Christmas holiday traditions of lighting up the ranch.
After he meets Sara, Travis makes it clear that layoffs of employees isn't an option. Chloe takes to the ranch and makes friends with Lexie Ryan (played by Kayla Hutton). Sara and Chloe are amazed to find a beautiful home at the ranch, and a horse barn and buildings that seem almost too immaculate to be on a working ranch. Others in the cast fit nicely in this story. Sara comes up with a last-minute idea to save the ranch without having to sell off any of its 20,000 acres, and she overcomes her insecurity and gives into romance with Travis.
Now, you'd think that this would be rated higher than six stars by this reviewer. And, here's why it isn't. First, there is absolutely no chemistry between the two leads, and it's nigh on impossible to think romance. Not that the movie doesn't try to force it upon the viewers. And that's the second very big negative. Travis can't take his eyes off Sara. It's unreal and one can't imagine what was going through the minds of the director and camera operator for the many, many shots in virtually every scene where Travis is staring wooden faced at Sara. And, most of them show her staring back. They look blank and speechless and expressionless. And, surely not romantic. This is really bad acting and directing.
Now, the crime in this film is because the script otherwise is very good, and peppered with clever dialog - especially witty lines from Travis. Pops joins in with some himself, and this had the making of a very good, nice light comedy romance and drama. But the two leads apparently couldn't find it in themselves to show or feel some chemistry with one another. So, the many scenes of Travis just staring emotionless, with an occasional line or word, really do this film in. There's one other bothersome thing about Travis. He's supposed to be a hardy Montanan and rancher. Yet he wears nothing but a light jacket - not even a barn coat, all the time, and he's frequently cold and rubbing and blowing on this hands. Pops has enough sense to at least wear a more substantial coat, to go along with his more natural padding. So, either Travis should have worn a heavy coat, or he should have shown a little more manly hardiness for the climate.
This film is worth watching for the occasional snappy lines and fresh humor, and the Western setting scenes and feel. Just don't expect anything of a real romance and be prepared for some silly scenes when it looks like Travis and Sara just face off - he mostly blank-faced, in a staring contest.
Here are some favorite lines from this film.
Pops Carson, "Well, the horses here like Christmas too. They like to pretend they're reindeer."
Travis Carson, "That's a cowboy work ethic - you wouldn't ask anybody to do anything you wouldn't do yourself."
Travis, to Sara, "You jump at the work load so fast, it gives me whiplash."
Sara Bradley, "You missed Christmas in New York City - the most Christmassy place in the whole world?" Travis, "Well, it wasn't home."
Travis, hearing a distant bell ringing, "Oh - must be time to go." Sara, "Where?" Travis, "Oh, back to the house. First rule of ranch life - never ignore the chow bell."
Sara, "Sometimes you don't know where you belong until you get there. And it all becomes so clear."
Travis, "Do you wanna go for a stroll?" Sara, "I'd love to." Travis, "Okay. You know that means walking slowly, right?" Sara, "I'll do my best."